Sunday, December 8Ostertag irate at ref in game against LakersAssociated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Utah Jazz center Greg Ostertag was ejected
for arguing a non-call in the first quarter against the Los Angeles
Lakers on Sunday night.

Six minutes later, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan also was tossed.

Ostertag and Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal got tied up and
hooked arms under Utah's basket two minutes in. Believing O'Neal
should have been called for a foul, Ostertag shouted at referee
Derrick Stafford as teammate Matt Harpring tried to restrain him.

Ostertag fought off Harpring's hold and kept shouting as
Stafford called him for a technical. Ostertag charged at Stafford,
who called him for a second technical. Sloan came out on the floor
as Ostertag flailed his arms trying to get away from the grip of
his teammates.

Stafford then ejected Ostertag, who kicked a pile of white
towels near the Jazz bench as he stormed off the court. He also
yanked a black Lakers banner that covered the tunnel to the locker
room, but failed to pull it down.

Sloan was ejected at 4:12 after directing a running commentary
toward Stafford.

O'Neal and Ostertag have a history. In November 1997, O'Neal
slapped Ostertag during a morning shootaround, was fined $10,000
and suspended for one game.